International Cinema Festival of India

With technology advancing at such a rate that it is now commonplace to have at least one home computer in the house, connected to high-speed internet, illegal movie downloads are becoming an ever bigger problem. Many people do not realize that they are downloading illegally, and most have no idea of the impact of their actions. However, this is a very important subject to broach, as it affects many industries and individuals.

What illegal downloading is

Every country has its own laws and regulations with regards to copyrighted material and downloads. This should serve as a basic guide to what may constitute illegal downloading of movies.

If you download a movie that is still playing in cinemas, or maybe has not even come out in cinemas yet, you can guarantee that the version you have downloaded is an illegal copy. Movies are usually released to DVD about three months after the film screens in theaters. Anything that is released to the public before that three month period has been obtained without permission.

There are a number of file-sharing sites available on the internet. If someone provides copyrighted material to someone else, without having permission to do so, they are acting in violation of the law. It is the case in many countries that those who download these materials are also committing an offense. In general, peer-to-peer downloads, like BitTorrents, are an unlawful way of obtaining films.

What is the impact of these downloads?

Whenever a movie is downloaded illegally, the lawful owner of that material is being robbed of profit they would otherwise have received through movie sales. When considered in the context of movie producers or actors who already possess millions of dollars, it may be difficult to see how this is unfair. However, movie makers are not the only ones missing out. In fact, the impact is probably felt most by cinemas and video stores. If the problem becomes worse, it could easily jeopardize smaller, local businesses.

Australian film in particular suffers from this issue. The industry, which is already struggling, is said to lose several hundred million dollars each year because of illegal downloading of films. Australian film makers are greatly limited in their ability to produce more films, by this financial loss. They need viewer support so that they can continue to produce quality films that express Australian culture and identity, creativity and ingenuity.

Can you be punished for illegally downloading movies?

Depending on which country you live in, you can be prosecuted for accessing copyrighted or illegal materials. This is particularly true in the US and Australia. Fines of thousands, and in some cases millions, of dollars can be issued for illegally downloading films. Warnings at the start of legally distributed films will advise you as to the punishments for such offenses within your country or region.

As you can see, illegal movie downloads are a big problem. They affect people all over the world, from producers to cinemas and DVD retailers. And if you get caught and fined, then it will definitely affect you. With plenty of legal alternatives, there really is no excuse. So do the right thing, and support the global film industry through legal downloads.

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